Thao with the Get Down Stay Down - Know Better Learn Faster

You have to hand it to Thao Nguyen by following up her band's critically acclaimed second album, 2008's We Brave Bee Stings And All, so quickly with new album Know Better Learn Faster. Sure, it may sound like a lost Daft Punk lyric, but Thao's music is anything but robot-orchestrated. Angular, interweaving guitar melodies wind their way through most of the album, augmented by catchy spurts of percussion and Thao's quirky, slice-of-life lyrics. On Know Better Learn Faster, Thao and her bandmates also utilize the little subtleties in their music to their advantage. A double hand-clap takes priority over the main drum-beat on "When We Swam," a wailing violin shines on the title track, and a soft mandolin layered over a snakey guitar riff turns "The Give" into an interesting take on folk-rock. At thirteen tracks long, the album drags a little in the middle, but thankfully picks back up again with the jittery melodies of "Easy." Overall, Know Better Learn Faster isn't as immediately appealing as Thao's previous album, but it's still worth a few listens.

DOWNLOAD: Thao with the Get Down Stay Down - Know Better Learn Faster [Kill Rock Stars]
Recommended Tracks: "Cool Yourself," "When We Swam," "Body," "Easy."